Student Ministry

Our Student Ministry is a place where every junior high and senior high student is welcomed to experience authentic community, passionate worship, and a relevant message. It is a place where students can cultivate their relationship with Jesus alongside other students and caring adults.

From the moment a student walks through the doors, we want them to experience the reality of God’s love and grace. Our energetic youth group nights include a live band, an engaging message, small group discussions, and a lot of fun! Also, at least one large event or special activity is planned each month.

Every year, students have the opportunity to attend a winter retreat weekend, a week of summer camp, and local, regional and foreign mission trips.

Junior High (6th-8th)

TUESDAY NIGHTS

6:30-8:30 PM // MAIN SANCTUARY

Senior High (9th-12th)

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS

6:30-8:30 PM // MAIN SANCTUARY

Upcoming Student Ministry Events

Learn More ABOUT...

Student Leadership Team

Our Student Leadership Team is open to students in 10th-12th grade. We believe that leadership opportunities are essential to healthy growth. In order to be a part of this leadership team, we require you to attend Sunday morning worship and Sr. High APEX on Wednesday nights. You will have weekly ministry responsibilities and be expected to serve the student ministry and New Hanover UMC. If this is a commitment you feel you can commit to, we would love for you to fill out our Student Leadership Team application.

Adults Serving in Youth Ministry

If you are interested in serving as a Youth Leader, please contact someone on your Student Ministry team. Clearances are required for adults serving our students. Please click here to fill out the required forms.

Winter Retreat and Summer Camp

Connecting to others in the body of Christ while growing in faith are at the center of our annual winter and summer camp experiences. Junior and Senior high students enjoy separate trips for both Winter and Summer camps, where they spend time with each other, pastors and adult leaders, and people from other churches while worshiping God and learning who they are in his eyes.

Mission Trips

New Hanover teens have the opportunity each year to go on church-led trips to local, national, and international destinations, where they serve and learn how God uses us in the lives of others. Students help to run our annual Missions Auction, held every spring to raise money for these trips. For locations of this year's missions trips, go to the Serve main page.

Soup Kitchen

Once a month, our students come together to serve at a local soup kitchen, serving a meal to those in need. At Christmastime, the students hand out gift bags that New Hanover members put together for members of the community who come to receive.

Serving at Church

Students can serve in many areas at church, including volunteering in the nurturing center and in elementary Sunday School classes, setting up and tearing down the chairs in our sanctuary, helping out at VBS in the summer, assisting in the music, drama, and technical areas during weekly services, and providing childcare during special church services such as Christmas Eve. Whether by themselves, with a parent, or in a group, students at New Hanover are considered valuable members who play significant roles in our church.

Confirmation

When they are ready, students from 7th to 10th grade are prepared to publicly affirm their faith in Jesus Christ during this 8-week class, culminating in an overnight trip. Click herefor more information about confirmation.

"Youth group offers me a break from the outside world and all of my other activities. It is a huge part of my spiritual growth and something that I look forward to every Wednesday night when I don't have other commitments, which unfortunately is too often."

"Because it helps me with my walk with Christ and brings me closer to Him and my friends. It shows me the wonders of his love."

"Gives me the opportunity to grow in Christ and meet people doing the same."

"It keeps me connected to Jesus along with being around my friends who are also connected to Jesus."

"It gives me an opportunity to worship God not only by myself but with people I love."

"It's a place I can go and feel safe and connect with other young Christians."

"Because I need Jesus in my life."

"It allows me to be closer with God, make new friends, and become deeper in God's word."

"It's the only place I feel fully accepted around people my age and the leaders love to help me become closer to God and they are willing to support me when I need it."

"Because it makes me learn more about God and I get to learn with my friends."

"It's important because my relationship with God gets better and I grow closer to him and I grow closer to the pastors and the youth group I just love it."